Reproductive performance of sows inseminated with semen doses stored for up to seven days in long-term extender in a field condition

This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of sows inseminated with semen doses preserved at 15-18 degrees C for up to seven days in long-term extender (Duragen (R)). Parity one (PO1) to PO7 sows were randomly assigned to the following groups: AI1-3 (n=190), insemination with semen doses stored between one and three days; and AI5-7 (n=124), insemination with semen doses stored between five and seven days. Sows were submitted to estrus detection twice a day. Post-cervical insemination according to weaning-to-estrus interval was performed. The farrowing rate (FR) did not differ between the groups (AI1-3=83.2%; AI5-7=82.2%; p>0.05) nor did the total number of piglets born (TPB; AI1-3=14.2 +/- 0.3; AI5-7=14.5 +/- 0.3; p>0.05). Considering the semen dose most likely responsible for fertilization according to its storage time (1, 2-3, 5, and 6-7 days), the FR (72.7%, 87.8%, 85.7%, and 79%, respectively) and TPB (14.4, 14.0, 14.9, and 13.5, respectively) were similar among the groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, the use of semen doses extended with long-term extender stored for up to seven days did not impair the reproductive performance of sows. Therefore, it''s using could optimize production efficiency and logistics of semen dose deliveries to sow farms

Caracterização do perfil sorológico de nulíparas suínas e da progênie frente ao parvovírus suíno.

Projeto: 03.09.00.046

towards formal validation of trust and security in the internet of services

Service designers and developers, while striving to meet the requirements posed by application scenarios, have a hard time to assess the trust and security impact of an option, a minor change, a combination of functionalities, etc., due to the subtle and unforeseeable situations and behaviors that can arise from this panoply of choices. This often results in the release of flawed products to end-users. This issue can be significantly mitigated by empowering designers and developers with tools that offer easy to use graphical interfaces and notations, while employing established verification techniques to efficiently tackle industrial-size problems. The formal verification of trust and security of the Internet of Services will significantly boost its development and public acceptance

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services

Biofuntionalization of Nanoelectrode Ensembles: protection of the nanoelectrodes with self-assembled monolayers

In this work we study the possibility to use self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiols to protect the surface of nanoelectrodes ensembles (NEEs) from the undesired adsorption of biomolecules, in particular, proteins. Thioctic acid (TA) and 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid (MES) were chosen for this aim. The behaviour of SAM-modified NEEs was studied by cyclic voltammetry as a function of the solution pH using ferrocenecarboxylate as anionic redox probe (FcCOO -) and (ferrocenylmethyl) trimethylammonium (FA +) as cationic redox probe. It was observed that, when the SAM is negatively charged it repels the negative redox probes from the surface of the nanoelectrodes, while the voltammetry of FA + remain unchanged. The possible protective role of the SAM was confirmed by studying the voltammetric signals recorded with NEEs dipped in a solution of a high adsorbable protein, namely casein, comparing signals recorded at bare NEEs vs. signals at SAM-modified NEEs, in different experimental conditions